Balmain Diffusion Line to Debut at Paris Fashion Week

Pictured: A screenshot from the Balmain preview video

Fashion House Balmain has announced that they will show a diffusion line entitled Pierre Balmain this weekend at Paris fashion week.  I have to wonder what the founder of the house, Pierre Balmain, who was all about classic, luxurious styles and dressed Ava Gardner would think of this news. Dedicated to producing elegant styles, Pierre Balmain said that “dressmaking is the architecture of movement.”  When he said that, I don’t think he was talking about a line of T-shirts and skinny jeans (like the new diffusion line) which will bear his name.

Today’s announcement proves unequivocally what designer Karl Lagerfeld told CNN about his Macy’s line. “Today in fashion the inexpensive line is as important as the expensive line,” explained Lagerfeld when asked why he decided to work with Macy’s when he is already busy working for Chanel and Fendi.  I always thought that designers should have affordable clothes for consumers, and that was my basic premise when I started The Recessionista in 2008.   When the House of Balmain gets into the game, you know the fashion industry is truly transformed as they embrace thrift as the new chic.

So if you like the quality of Balmain, what can you expect from the lower priced line?  Look for versions of the trademark tailored jackets and slim jeans.  According to The Cut,  there will also be T-Shirts and mini-skirts. Pricing will range from $174 for T-shirts and $944 for suits.  Right, what kind of T-Shirt is worth that amount of money?  There will even be innovative designs like “muscle shirts” for men. (insert sarcasm here) You can see a preview of the clothing in a video released by Balmain starring model Abbey Lee Kershaw and the band Our Mountain. According to Balmain’s Tumblr page, the video is “inspired by the downtown cool, rock sensibility and international lifestyle” Kershaw embodies.   That’s a long way from the “new look” of full skirts with cinched,  small waists designed by Pierre Balmain and Christian Dior after WWII.